39 Ways To Live And Not Merely Exist
(stolen from eviscerate)
1. Love. Perhaps themost important. Fall in love, if you aren't already. If you have, fallin love with your partner all over again. Abandon caution and let yourheart be broken. Or love family members, friends, anyone -- it doesn'thave to be romantic love. Love all of humanity, one person at a time.
2. Get outside.Don't let yourself be shut indoors. Go out when it's raining. Walk onthe beach. Hike through the woods. Swim in a freezing lake. Bask in thesun. Play sports, or walk barefoot through grass. Pay close attentionto nature.
3. Savor food.Don't just eat your food, but really enjoy it. Feel the texture, thebursts of flavors. Savor every bite. If you limit your intake ofsweets, it will make the small treats you give yourself (berries ordark chocolate are my favorites) even more enjoyable. And when you dohave them, really, really savor them. Slowly.
4. Create a morning ritual.Wake early and greet the day. Watch the sun rise. Out loud, tellyourself that you will not waste this day, which is a gift. You will becompassionate to your fellow human beings, and live every moment to itsfullest. Stretch or meditate or exercise as part of your ritual. Enjoysome coffee.
5. Take chances.We often live our lives too cautiously, worried about what might gowrong. Be bold, risk it all. Quit your job and go to business foryourself (plan it out first!), or go up to that girl you've liked for along time and ask her out. What do you have to lose?
6. Follow excitement.Try to find the things in life that excite you, and then go after them.Make life one exciting adventure after another (with perhaps some quiettimes in between).
7. Find your passion.Similar to the above tip, this one asks you to find your calling. Makeyour living by doing the thing you love to do. First, think about whatyou really love to do. There may be many things. Find out how you canmake a living doing it. It may be difficult, but you only live once.
8. Get out of your cubicle.Do you sit all day in front of computer, shuffling papers and takingphone calls and chatting on the Internet? Don't waste your days likethis. Break free from the cubicle environment, and do your work on alaptop, in a coffee shop, or on a boat, or in a log cabin. This mayrequire a change of jobs, or becoming a freelancer. It's worth it.
9. Turn off the TV.How many hours will we waste away in front of the boob tube? How manyhours do we have to live? Do the math, then unplug the TV. Only plug itback in when you have a DVD of a movie you love. Otherwise, keep it offand find other stuff to do. Don't know what to do? Read further.
10. Pull away from Internet.You're reading something on the Internet right now. And, with theexception of this article, it is just more wasting away of yourprecious time. You cannot get these minutes back. Unplug the Internet,then get out of your office or house. Right now! And go and dosomething.
11. Travel.Sure, you want to travel some day. When you have vacation time, or whenyou're older. Well, what are you waiting for? Find a way to take atrip, if not this month, then sometime soon. You may need to sell yourcar or stop your cable bill and stop eating out to do it, but make ithappen. You are too young to not see the world. If need be, find a wayto make a living by freelancing, then work while you travel. Only workan hour or two a day. Don't check email but once a week. Then use therest of the time to see the world.
12. Rediscover what's important.Take an hour and make a list of everything that's important to you. Addto it everything that you want to do in life. Now cut that list down to4-5 things. Just the most important things in your life. This is yourcore list. This is what matters. Focus your life on these things. Maketime for them.
13. Eliminate everything else.What's going on in your life that's not on that short list? All thatstuff is wasting your time, pulling your attention from what'simportant. As much as possible, simplify your life by eliminating thestuff that's not on your short list, or minimizing it.
14. Exercise.Get off the couch and go for a walk. Eventually try running. Or do somepush ups and crunches. Or swim or bike or row. Or go for a hike.Whatever you do, get active, and you'll love it. And life will be morealive.
15. Be positive.Learn to recognize the negative thoughts you have. These are theself-doubts, the criticisms of others, the complaints, the reasons youcan't do something. Then stop yourself when you have these thoughts,and replace them with positive thoughts. Solutions. You can do this!
16. Open your heart.Is your heart a closed bundle of scar tissue? Learn to open it, have itready to receive love, to give love unconditionally. If you have aproblem with this, talk to someone about it. And practice makes perfect.
17. Kiss in the rain.Seize the moment and be romantic. Raining outside? Grab your lover andgive her a passionate kiss. Driving home? Stop the car and pick somewildflowers. Send her a love note. Dress sexy for him.
18. Face your fears.What are you most afraid of? What is holding you back? Whatever it is,recognize it, and face it. Do what you are most afraid of. Afraid ofheights? Go to the tallest building, and look down over the edge. Onlyby facing our fears can we be free of them.
19. When you suffer, suffer.Life isn't all about fun and games. Suffering is an inevitable part oflife. We lose our jobs. We lose our lovers. We lose our pets. We getphysically injured or sick. A loved one becomes sick. A parent dies.Learn to feel the pain intensely, and really grieve. This is a part oflife -- really feel the pain. And when you're done, move on, and findjoy.
20. Slow down.Life moves along at such a rapid pace these days. It's not healthy, andit's not conducive to living. Practice doing everything slowly --everything, from eating to walking to driving to working to reading.Enjoy what you do. Learn to move at a snail's pace.
21. Touch humanity.Get out of your house and manicured neighborhoods, and find those wholive in worse conditions. Meet them, talk to them, understand them.Live among them. Be one of them. Give up your materialistic lifestyle.
22. Volunteer.Help at homeless soup kitchens. Learn compassion, and learn to helpease the suffering of others. Help the sick, those with disabilities,those who are dying.
23. Play with children.Children, more than anyone else, know how to live. They experienceeverything in the moment, fully. When they get hurt, they really cry.When they play, they really have fun. Learn from them, instead ofthinking you know so much more than them. Play with them, and learn tobe joyful like them.
24. Talk to old people.There is no one wiser, more experienced, more learned, than those whohave lived through life. They can tell you amazing stories. Give youadvice on making a marriage last or staying out of debt. Tell you abouttheir regrets, so you can learn from them and avoid the same mistakes.They are the wisdom of our society -- take advantage of their existencewhile they're still around.
25. Learn new skills.Constantly improve yourself instead of standing still -- not becauseyou're so imperfect now, but because it is gratifying and satisfying.You should accept yourself as you are, and learn to love who you are,but still try to improve -- if only because the process of improvementis life itself.
26. Find spirituality.For some, this means finding God or Jesus or Allah or Buddha. Forothers, this means becoming in tune with the spirits of our ancestors,or with nature. For still others, this just means an inner energy.Whatever spirituality means for you, rediscover it, and its power.
27. Take mini-retirements.Don't leave the joy of retirement until you are too old to enjoy it. Doit now, while you're young. It makes working that much more worth it.Find ways to take a year off every few years. Save up, sell your home,your possessions, and travel. Live simply, but live, without having towork. Enjoy life, then go back to work and save up enough money to doit again in a couple of years.
28. Do nothing.Despite the tip above that we should find excitement, there is value indoing nothing as well. Not doing nothing as in reading, or taking anap, or watching TV, or meditating. Doing nothing as in sitting there,doing nothing. Just learning to be still, in silence, to hear our innervoice, to be in tune with life. Do this daily if possible.
29. Stop playing video games.They might be fun, but they can take up way too much time. If you spenda lot of time playing online games, or computer solitaire, or Wii orGameboy or whatever, consider going a week without it. Then findsomething else to do, outside.
30. Watch sunsets, daily.One of the most beautiful times of day. Make it a daily ritual to finda good spot to watch the sunset, perhaps having a light dinner whileyou do so.
31. Stop reading magazines.They're basically crap. And they waste your time and money. Cancel yoursubscriptions and walk past them at the news stands. If you have toread something, read a trashy novel or even better, read Dumb LittleMan once a day and be done.
32. Break out from ruts.Do you do things the same way every day? Change it up. Try somethingnew. Take a different route to work. Start your day out differently.Approach work from a new angle. Look at things from new perspectives.
33. Stop watching the news.It's depressing and useless. If you're a news junky, this may bedifficult. I haven't watch TV news or read a newspaper regularly inabout two years. It hasn't hurt me a bit. Anything important, my momtells me about.
34. Laugh till you cry.Laughing is one of the best ways to live. Tell jokes and laugh yourhead off. Watch an awesome comedy. Learn to laugh at anything. Roll onthe ground laughing. You'll love it.
35. Lose control.Not only control over yourself, but control over others. It's a badhabit to try to control others -- it will only lead to stress andunhappiness for yourself and those you try to control. Let others live,and live for yourself. And lose control of yourself now and then too.
36. Cry.Men, especially, tend to hold in our tears, but crying is an amazingrelease. Cry at sad movies. Cry at a funeral. Cry when you are hurt, orwhen somebody you love is hurt. It releases these emotions and allowsus to cleanse ourselves.
37. Make an awesome dessert.I like to make warm, soft chocolate cake. But even berries dipped inchocolate, or crepes with ice cream and fruit, or fresh apple pie, orhomemade chocolate chip cookies or brownies, are great. This isn't anevery day thing, but an occasional treat thing. But it's wonderful.
38. Try something new, every week.Ask yourself: "What new thing shall I try this week?" Then be sure todo it. You don't have to learn a new language in one week, but seek newexperiences. Give it a try. You might decide you want to keep it inyour life.
39. Be in the moment.Instead of thinking about things you need to do, or things that havehappened to you, or worrying or planning or regretting, think aboutwhat you are doing, right now. What is around you? What smells andsounds and sights and feelings are you experiencing? Learn to do thisas much as possible through meditation, but also through bringing yourfocus back to the present as much as you can in everything you do.
- Leo Babauta
1. Love. Perhaps themost important. Fall in love, if you aren't already. If you have, fallin love with your partner all over again. Abandon caution and let yourheart be broken. Or love family members, friends, anyone -- it doesn'thave to be romantic love. Love all of humanity, one person at a time.
2. Get outside.Don't let yourself be shut indoors. Go out when it's raining. Walk onthe beach. Hike through the woods. Swim in a freezing lake. Bask in thesun. Play sports, or walk barefoot through grass. Pay close attentionto nature.
3. Savor food.Don't just eat your food, but really enjoy it. Feel the texture, thebursts of flavors. Savor every bite. If you limit your intake ofsweets, it will make the small treats you give yourself (berries ordark chocolate are my favorites) even more enjoyable. And when you dohave them, really, really savor them. Slowly.
4. Create a morning ritual.Wake early and greet the day. Watch the sun rise. Out loud, tellyourself that you will not waste this day, which is a gift. You will becompassionate to your fellow human beings, and live every moment to itsfullest. Stretch or meditate or exercise as part of your ritual. Enjoysome coffee.
5. Take chances.We often live our lives too cautiously, worried about what might gowrong. Be bold, risk it all. Quit your job and go to business foryourself (plan it out first!), or go up to that girl you've liked for along time and ask her out. What do you have to lose?
6. Follow excitement.Try to find the things in life that excite you, and then go after them.Make life one exciting adventure after another (with perhaps some quiettimes in between).
7. Find your passion.Similar to the above tip, this one asks you to find your calling. Makeyour living by doing the thing you love to do. First, think about whatyou really love to do. There may be many things. Find out how you canmake a living doing it. It may be difficult, but you only live once.
8. Get out of your cubicle.Do you sit all day in front of computer, shuffling papers and takingphone calls and chatting on the Internet? Don't waste your days likethis. Break free from the cubicle environment, and do your work on alaptop, in a coffee shop, or on a boat, or in a log cabin. This mayrequire a change of jobs, or becoming a freelancer. It's worth it.
9. Turn off the TV.How many hours will we waste away in front of the boob tube? How manyhours do we have to live? Do the math, then unplug the TV. Only plug itback in when you have a DVD of a movie you love. Otherwise, keep it offand find other stuff to do. Don't know what to do? Read further.
10. Pull away from Internet.You're reading something on the Internet right now. And, with theexception of this article, it is just more wasting away of yourprecious time. You cannot get these minutes back. Unplug the Internet,then get out of your office or house. Right now! And go and dosomething.
11. Travel.Sure, you want to travel some day. When you have vacation time, or whenyou're older. Well, what are you waiting for? Find a way to take atrip, if not this month, then sometime soon. You may need to sell yourcar or stop your cable bill and stop eating out to do it, but make ithappen. You are too young to not see the world. If need be, find a wayto make a living by freelancing, then work while you travel. Only workan hour or two a day. Don't check email but once a week. Then use therest of the time to see the world.
12. Rediscover what's important.Take an hour and make a list of everything that's important to you. Addto it everything that you want to do in life. Now cut that list down to4-5 things. Just the most important things in your life. This is yourcore list. This is what matters. Focus your life on these things. Maketime for them.
13. Eliminate everything else.What's going on in your life that's not on that short list? All thatstuff is wasting your time, pulling your attention from what'simportant. As much as possible, simplify your life by eliminating thestuff that's not on your short list, or minimizing it.
14. Exercise.Get off the couch and go for a walk. Eventually try running. Or do somepush ups and crunches. Or swim or bike or row. Or go for a hike.Whatever you do, get active, and you'll love it. And life will be morealive.
15. Be positive.Learn to recognize the negative thoughts you have. These are theself-doubts, the criticisms of others, the complaints, the reasons youcan't do something. Then stop yourself when you have these thoughts,and replace them with positive thoughts. Solutions. You can do this!
16. Open your heart.Is your heart a closed bundle of scar tissue? Learn to open it, have itready to receive love, to give love unconditionally. If you have aproblem with this, talk to someone about it. And practice makes perfect.
17. Kiss in the rain.Seize the moment and be romantic. Raining outside? Grab your lover andgive her a passionate kiss. Driving home? Stop the car and pick somewildflowers. Send her a love note. Dress sexy for him.
18. Face your fears.What are you most afraid of? What is holding you back? Whatever it is,recognize it, and face it. Do what you are most afraid of. Afraid ofheights? Go to the tallest building, and look down over the edge. Onlyby facing our fears can we be free of them.
19. When you suffer, suffer.Life isn't all about fun and games. Suffering is an inevitable part oflife. We lose our jobs. We lose our lovers. We lose our pets. We getphysically injured or sick. A loved one becomes sick. A parent dies.Learn to feel the pain intensely, and really grieve. This is a part oflife -- really feel the pain. And when you're done, move on, and findjoy.
20. Slow down.Life moves along at such a rapid pace these days. It's not healthy, andit's not conducive to living. Practice doing everything slowly --everything, from eating to walking to driving to working to reading.Enjoy what you do. Learn to move at a snail's pace.
21. Touch humanity.Get out of your house and manicured neighborhoods, and find those wholive in worse conditions. Meet them, talk to them, understand them.Live among them. Be one of them. Give up your materialistic lifestyle.
22. Volunteer.Help at homeless soup kitchens. Learn compassion, and learn to helpease the suffering of others. Help the sick, those with disabilities,those who are dying.
23. Play with children.Children, more than anyone else, know how to live. They experienceeverything in the moment, fully. When they get hurt, they really cry.When they play, they really have fun. Learn from them, instead ofthinking you know so much more than them. Play with them, and learn tobe joyful like them.
24. Talk to old people.There is no one wiser, more experienced, more learned, than those whohave lived through life. They can tell you amazing stories. Give youadvice on making a marriage last or staying out of debt. Tell you abouttheir regrets, so you can learn from them and avoid the same mistakes.They are the wisdom of our society -- take advantage of their existencewhile they're still around.
25. Learn new skills.Constantly improve yourself instead of standing still -- not becauseyou're so imperfect now, but because it is gratifying and satisfying.You should accept yourself as you are, and learn to love who you are,but still try to improve -- if only because the process of improvementis life itself.
26. Find spirituality.For some, this means finding God or Jesus or Allah or Buddha. Forothers, this means becoming in tune with the spirits of our ancestors,or with nature. For still others, this just means an inner energy.Whatever spirituality means for you, rediscover it, and its power.
27. Take mini-retirements.Don't leave the joy of retirement until you are too old to enjoy it. Doit now, while you're young. It makes working that much more worth it.Find ways to take a year off every few years. Save up, sell your home,your possessions, and travel. Live simply, but live, without having towork. Enjoy life, then go back to work and save up enough money to doit again in a couple of years.
28. Do nothing.Despite the tip above that we should find excitement, there is value indoing nothing as well. Not doing nothing as in reading, or taking anap, or watching TV, or meditating. Doing nothing as in sitting there,doing nothing. Just learning to be still, in silence, to hear our innervoice, to be in tune with life. Do this daily if possible.
29. Stop playing video games.They might be fun, but they can take up way too much time. If you spenda lot of time playing online games, or computer solitaire, or Wii orGameboy or whatever, consider going a week without it. Then findsomething else to do, outside.
30. Watch sunsets, daily.One of the most beautiful times of day. Make it a daily ritual to finda good spot to watch the sunset, perhaps having a light dinner whileyou do so.
31. Stop reading magazines.They're basically crap. And they waste your time and money. Cancel yoursubscriptions and walk past them at the news stands. If you have toread something, read a trashy novel or even better, read Dumb LittleMan once a day and be done.
32. Break out from ruts.Do you do things the same way every day? Change it up. Try somethingnew. Take a different route to work. Start your day out differently.Approach work from a new angle. Look at things from new perspectives.
33. Stop watching the news.It's depressing and useless. If you're a news junky, this may bedifficult. I haven't watch TV news or read a newspaper regularly inabout two years. It hasn't hurt me a bit. Anything important, my momtells me about.
34. Laugh till you cry.Laughing is one of the best ways to live. Tell jokes and laugh yourhead off. Watch an awesome comedy. Learn to laugh at anything. Roll onthe ground laughing. You'll love it.
35. Lose control.Not only control over yourself, but control over others. It's a badhabit to try to control others -- it will only lead to stress andunhappiness for yourself and those you try to control. Let others live,and live for yourself. And lose control of yourself now and then too.
36. Cry.Men, especially, tend to hold in our tears, but crying is an amazingrelease. Cry at sad movies. Cry at a funeral. Cry when you are hurt, orwhen somebody you love is hurt. It releases these emotions and allowsus to cleanse ourselves.
37. Make an awesome dessert.I like to make warm, soft chocolate cake. But even berries dipped inchocolate, or crepes with ice cream and fruit, or fresh apple pie, orhomemade chocolate chip cookies or brownies, are great. This isn't anevery day thing, but an occasional treat thing. But it's wonderful.
38. Try something new, every week.Ask yourself: "What new thing shall I try this week?" Then be sure todo it. You don't have to learn a new language in one week, but seek newexperiences. Give it a try. You might decide you want to keep it inyour life.
39. Be in the moment.Instead of thinking about things you need to do, or things that havehappened to you, or worrying or planning or regretting, think aboutwhat you are doing, right now. What is around you? What smells andsounds and sights and feelings are you experiencing? Learn to do thisas much as possible through meditation, but also through bringing yourfocus back to the present as much as you can in everything you do.
- Leo Babauta